cooperatives

Today
we demystify Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). The USDA defines a
CSA as a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm
operation so that the farmland becomes the community's farm, with the
growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks
and benefits of food production.

The Heritage Food Service Co-operative is looking to reclaim greater control over the regional food system on Vancouver Island. Once producing 85% of the food consumed on the Island, Vancouver Island now only produces less than 10% of the food consumed! This new co-operative will challenge the common supply chain model whereby farmers most often receive the short end of the stick, and replace it with what is known as a value chain.

Long an example of how people can assume control over our needs andresources, the co-operative model as an alternative to the industrial foodsystem will be the focus of this series. Part II - Agricultural LandOwnership and Farmers.

Long an example of how people can assume control over our needs andresources, the co-operative model as an alternative to the industrial foodsystem will be the focus of this series. Part I - Retail and Distribution